Boris Johnson led Britain’s sixth weekly ‘clap for carers’ to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug.
Clap for Carers is now in its sixth week, with millions of Britons up and down the country stepping onto their doorsteps, balconies and front gardens to applaud frontline workers at 8pm every Thursday.
The Prime Minister stood on the steps of Downing Street to salute the NHS just hours after hosting his first daily press conference since recovering from the virus.
His partner Carrie Symonds tweeted to say she had ‘another wonderful reason’ to clap for the Health Service this week too after giving birth to their baby boy yesterday.
There were three cheers for Captain Tom Moore outside his home in Bedfordshire to mark his 100th birthday today, with the PM giving him a personal thank you as he headed back into No10.
Tonight people stood in awe as rainbows formed above their towns and cities just as they prepared to clap – the same symbol children have been putting in their windows as a thank you to the NHS. People marvelled at the timing after a day of miserable weather saw rain and wind batter most of the UK today.
Boris Johnson (pictured outside Downing Street this evening at 8pm) led Britain’s sixth weekly ‘clap for carers’ to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug
Mr Johnson emerged from No10 Downing Street smiling as he clapped the NHS after they saved him from coronavirus and helped deliver his newborn son with fiancee Carrie Symonds
The family of Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and grandchildren Benji and Georgia emerge from outside his home in Bedfordshire as people clap, cheer and wish him a happy 100th birthday at 8pm
Medical staff outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, join in the applause to salute local frontline heroes
Tonight people stood in awe as rainbows formed above their towns and cities just as they prepared to clap – the same symbol children have been putting in their windows as a thank you to the NHS
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was seen at a safe two metre distance to the Prime Minister on Downing Street this evening
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was pictured applauding outside his home in north London with his wife at 8pm
Mr Johnson’s fiancee and new mother Carrie Symonds said she would be joining in the clap for carers again, a day after giving birth to a baby boy.
She tweeted: ‘Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday. I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too. Thank you so, so much!’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was seen two metres apart from the PM on Downing Street, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer clapped with his wife outside their London home.
He said there was ‘so much to clap for’ at the weekly clap for carers event on Thursday evening.
Tweeting a photo of himself clapping, he wrote: ‘We’re past the peak, it’s Captain Tom’s Birthday and we have the best carers of anywhere in the world. So much to clap for tonight.’
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a video of her applauding and added: ‘Thank you so much to everyone working hard every day to care for us and keep our essential services going #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForTheNHS’
People took to Twitter in the hour before the clap after spotting rainbows in multiple places across the country.
The rainbow has been adopted as a symbol for the weekly clap and one Twitter user, @Pazza_81, commented ‘that’s some timing’ after the colourful displays lit up the sky.
Jessica Gent posted this rainbow picture from London in the run-up to the sixth weekly Clap For Carers
This pictured was taken in Billericay, Essex, in the run-up to tonight’s Clap For Carers
Mutlicoloured arches were visible in London, Manchester and Liverpool, among others, and a few lucky people saw double rainbows.
When the clock struck 8pm, Britons banged pots and pans, sang, chanted and dressed up to say thank you to those caring for patients in hospitals, care homes and the community.
Meanwhile emergency services vehicles blared their sirens and flashed their blue lights as they paid tribute to their colleagues.
Buildings were lit up with messages of solidarity and gratitude, with several skyscrapers and other famous landmarks in London specially illuminated for the occasion.
The nationwide campaign was started by a Dutch woman from London called AnneMarie Plas, who went viral with her plea to clap for healthcare workers after seeing it take place in her home country and others around Europe.
Another picture of a rainbow, the symbol children have painted in their windows to say thank you to the NHS, was posted online
Rainbows were seen nationwide, with one Twitter user called Pamela commenting: ‘That’s some timing’
Do you have pictures/video of clap for carers in your area? Email them to [email protected]